Probably the six Black Vultures I saw kettling and moving north west over north Greenfield mid-afternoon today are some of James' birds from earlier in the day.

Mark FairbrotherMontague, MA 01351

>> --- Original message ---> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Turner's Falls gulls and Greenfield Black Vultures> From: James P Smith <keenbirder...>> To: Massbird <massbird...>> Date: Wednesday, 28/02/2018 12:18 PM>>> Greetings Massbirders,>>> February has produced an excellent show of gulls in the greater > Turner's Falls area. The birds have gathered at the power canal, Unity > Park and Barton Cove and usually choose resting/staging areas relative > to the ice conditions of the day. At the moment, most of the gull > activity has been above Turner's Falls dam and inside Barton Cove.>>> Iceland Gulls (kumlieni) peaked at 12 on Feb 15th, when 3 Glaucous > Gulls were also present, the latter being composed of 2 first-cycle > birds and 1 second-cycle. Throughout the month, 4 - 8 Iceland Gulls > have been present on all the visits that I've made. In addition, > single first-cycle Glaucous Gulls have been present on most days with > at least two individuals involved. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull > has also been present throughout the month.>>> Also of note, a nice build of migrant waterfowl towards the end of the > month with 35 Ring-necked Ducks at Barton Cove on the 28th and an > impressive flock of 29 Northern Pintail over Unity Park, Turner's > Falls on the 21st. Turkey Vultures started to appear from around Feb > 21st and this morning (Feb 28th) I came across 8 Black Vultures > dispersing from a roost on Federal Street very close to downtown > Greenfield.>>> Images of many of these (and a few more besides) can be seen at;>>> https://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/>>>> Good birding,>>> James